James u



(No Model.)

ATTEST:

J. U. MACKENZIE.

PUZZLE.

Patnped May 29,1883

M I'F ZQ JW 3 INVENTDR:

, To an whom it may concern: p

. Be it known that I, JAMES U. MACKENZIE,

i i a of Brooklyn, in the countyof Kings andState of New York, have invented a new and useful l l ImprovementinPuzzles,of1which thefollow ring is a specification.

My invention relatesto puzzles in which the object to be attained is the formation of cer- M tain combinationsby moving into proper positions blocks, disks, or other bodies bearing on their faces letters, figures, orother characters, my object being mainly to produce anew form ofpuzzle of this class, and also to so form and construct all the various parts and devices em- 1 ployed in such puzzles as to renderthem more convenient and effective for the purpose for i which they aredesigned. V l

The new formofpuzzle which I have devised consists of a number of pieces, each hav 216 ing marked or formed upon it an alphabetical character. These character-bearin g pieces are placed in a suitable box .or frame, or upon a suitable base, filling or covering, such box, 1 frame, or base, with the exception of a single I the blocks, so that they may be placed in any position relative to each other to form any desired word or combination of words or letters. I I prefer to'construct or arrange this appaga" ratus in the following manner, it being under- "stood, however, thatthe arrangements and de-' vices belowdescribed are adapted for use with any puzzle of the class mentioned, as well as a with my alphabetical puzzle: a

5 A suitable flat base is provided, having l a raised and inwardly overlapping edges. Upon a a this base are supported in parallel rows a. r a proper number of blocks or plates,'separated from each other, and raised by their supports to the same height as the edges of the box, a space being left entirely around each block and under its edges. The letter or character bearing pieces l preferably consist of plates or blocks, on the upper faces of which the char- 4 5 actersiare formed. From the center of the under side of each plate or block extends a shank which has an enlarged head or is attached to another plate or disk. These character-car- .riers rest-uponthe raised stationary blocks, the

0 shanks passing between said blocks, and the lowerplates or enlargements entering beneath mew- JAMES MACKENZIE, OFBROOKLYN, Nnw oaK.

2 "space. This space permits the movement of *i AT NT FFICE.

-S PECIFICATION forming partof Letters. Patent No. 278,571, dated May 29, 1883,

application filed March 1883. (No modeh) their edges. I thus provide means preveiiting the removal of-the character-bearing pieces,

while at the same time allowing perfect freedom of movement, as the shanks pass readily through the spaces between the raised blocks. As the character-carriers cannot be removed,

fraudor deception as to the accomplishment.

of the puzzle is prevented. 1 may, however, haveone edge of the frameremovablyattached.

or hinged, so that the frame can be opened and the pieces slipped out, should it be desired to entirely rearrange them.

lt't-he number of characters employed in the puzzle is too small to occupy the entire boxin theirmovements,it lS desirable to provide some means for filling the unoccupied spaces. I prefer also to make such means adjustable, so that spaces in different parts of the box may be filled up by them at diii'erent times. This adjustment changes the shape of the portion of.

the box in which the pieces are moveddthus allowing greater variety in the combinations which can be formed by such movements.

The parts of the puzzle may be made of tin or other metal, of wood, or of any suitable material. flu making them of tin, the base, with its edges and raised portions, could be struck from one piece, and each character-bearer can be formed in one piece; or the base and the movable pieces could be castfrom metal or from other substance, such as celluloid or the character-bearin g pieces might consist of two woodon parts united by a wooden or metallic shank, or of a wooden head, in which is inserted a metal rod or pin having an enlarged end; or they may be constructed in any other man her in which a piece having aflanged base for passing under the raised blocks of the base can be, produced.

The above m ay be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which-- Figure l is plan view of the puzzle; Fig. 12, another plan view with the adjustable block in a different position and the hinged side swung open Fig. 3, a vertical section of the puzzle, and Fig. 4 a view of one of the character-bearing pieces. t

A isthe base, having raised and inwardlyoverlapping edges 11 b. A number of square plates, 0 0, preferably with rounded corners,

alphabets of other languages than the English,

ter the base.

could be used, the frame or base being made of sufficient size to contain them. It will be seen that the twenty-six pieces, with one space,

left for moving them, do not entirely cover the base. The remaining space is filled by the blocks h andi. The block i is stationary, being held by the screw 70 and pins Z Z, which en- The block h, however, is adjustable, being pivoted at m, and held by a thumbscrew,n, which can be readily removed, so that i the block may be placed in either of the positions shown. In Fig.1 four rows of five pieces each are formed, so that,if desired, four words of five letters each may be spelled in one direction,while other combinations canbe formed at right angles to these. In Fig. 2 five rows of four letters each are formed in the horizontal direction. I

It is evident that other adjustable blocks could be employed should the form and size of the box render it desirable.

The edge I) ofthc box is hinged at 0, so that it may be swung open, and a spring-catch, p, for looking it when closed is provided. Thus all the letters can be slipped out, if desired. This'arrangement'may, however, be dispensed with.

Beneath the stationary block i the corners of one or more of the raised portions 0 0 might be cut away, so that a sufficient space -will be opened to allow the withdrawal of the movable pieces one at a time, the stationary block being first unscrewed. This may be employed instead of the hinged edge, if desired. In moving the pieces about upon the base any word or words which may be named or suggested can be formed.

It is evident that the details of construction shown and described may be greatly varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I am aware that puzzles have been in use in which pieces bearing numerical characters It is evident, however, that two or.

have been placed within a frame, filling said frame except a single space,and also that alphabetical characters have been arranged to be moved to form combinations; but as far as I am aware no puzzle has heretofore been constructed in which alphabetical pieces were employed filling the frame or base with the exception of a single space. i

What I claim is- 1. A puzzle consisting of a number of pieces placed in or upon a suitable frame or base. each bearing an alphabetical character, and filling or covering such frame or base with the exception of a single space for allowing the movement of said pieces, substantially as set forth.

2. In a puzzle, the; combination of twentysix movable pieces, each bearing a letter of the alphabet, with a frame or base having space sufficient for twenty-seven of such pieces, substantially as set forth.

3. In apuzzle in which a number of character-bearing pieces are moved within or upon a suitable frame or base, the combination, with said frame or base and said movable pieces, of means for filling such spaces within or upon said frame or base as are unoccupied during the operation of the puzzle, substantially as set forth.

4. In a puzzle in which a number of character-bearing pieces are moved within or upon a suitable frame or base, the combination, with said frame or base and said movable pieces,

ot' adjustable means for filling such spaces within or upon said frame or base as are unoccupied during the operation of the puzzle, substantially as set forth.

5. In a puzzle, the combination of the frame or base having spaces unoccupied by the character-bearin g pieces, with one or more pivoted blocks for filling said unoccupied spaces, substantially as set forth.

6. In a puzzle, the frame or base provided with parallel rows of raised and separate blocks or plates forming .parallel and intersecting grooves, in combination with character-bearing pieces having flanged bases movable between such rows. substantially as set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 6th day of March, 1883.

JAMES U. MACKENZIE. Witnesses:

H. W. SEELY, E. H. PYA'IT.

ICO 

